Alabama Senate Passes Education Budget

Schools in Alabama will see a total reduction of $370 million over this year’s budget. The Legislative Fiscal Office, a non-partisan agency, has estimated the budget will probably need additional cuts, due to slowing growth in state income and sales tax revenues.

The mood before the vote was a sharp contrast to the drawn out debate on May 19, when the budget was defeated in the 2008 Regular Session. Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee chairman Hank Sanders, D-Selma, asked members to not add amendments for particular schools, or causes, and senators did not attempt to make any changes to the final document.